Mathew Masinge
Norton magistrate Christine Nyandoro will today conduct an inspection in loco at Madzibaba Ishmael Chokurongerwa’s Canaan Shrine in Nyabira.
This comes after Harare District Prosecutor Tafara Chirambira successfully applied for the court to witness the on goings at the shrine.
The State intends to lead evidence from its last witness at the shrine in order to substantiate its case.
Chokurongerwa and seven others are on trial for ill-treating 41 children, conducting burials without burial orders, and failure to give birth and death of a person.
In their defence, Chokurongerwa and his accomplices submitted that they did not have a guardian obligation to the minors, hence it was not their duty to take care of them.
In a statement, the National Prosecution Authority said the visit to the shrine will help the court come up with a well-versed decision.
“The Court will be conducting an inspection in loco at Madzibaba Ishmael’s Canaan shrine in Nyabira tomorrow as the State case continues in the trial versus Chokurongerwa and others,” reads the statement.
Chokurongerwa (54) is appearing together with Takavengwa Gwenzi (55), Siribiniyo Chikunhire (53), Wonder Kabaya (41), Devlodge Katsande (48), Zebedia Sigudu (49), Aaron Chokurongerwa (47) and Shingirai Ngavafume (42), all from Lilly Farm in Nyabira.